Now that Ichiro Suzuki is getting his hits, the Mariners must find a way to get him home.
“You’d think with as many times as he’s been on base, he’d have scored more runs than he has,” manager Bob Melvin said.
Suzuki entered Wednesday’s game with a 16-game hitting streak, going 30-for-72 (a .417 average), but he scored just nine times.
Part of the problem is that Suzuki isn’t running – he is just 5-for-12 on stolen base attempts this season – and the hitters behind him have struggled to get him into scoring position.
Melvin said Suzuki is reluctant to run because pitchers are using the slide-step to speed their delivery to the plate.
“Teams are very aware of him over there,” Melvin said. “We may have to force the issue more (by stealing). But we have at times tried to force the issue with him running because we haven’t been scoring many runs via the hit.”
Melvin had hoped using Scott Spiezio more often in the second spot behind Suzuki would open up the right side of the infield on hit-and-run plays.
“It gives him a big lane to hit a ball through, and if he does hit the ball through you’re talking about runners on first and third,” Melvin said. “Ultimately, we’re trying to get him at third base with less than two outs.”
Bloomie’s day: Backup infielder Willie Bloomquist officially remains on his injury rehab assignment with the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers, although he worked out with the Mariners at Safeco Field before Wednesday’s game.
The Rainiers were idle Wednesday, and Bloomquist took the opportunity to take batting and fielding practice as he recovers from a strained lower back.
“I’m ready to roll,” Bloomquist said. “I feel good.”
The Mariners aren’t quite ready to bring him back off the disabled list, even though he is 5-for-8 in the two games he has played.
“It’s one thing if he’s an everyday player and you’re bringing him back, but he’s not going to be in there every day,” Melvin said. “We want to make sure we get him three games to get over the body soreness and everything you get after you haven’t played in a while.”
Remember McCracken? Backup outfielder Quinton McCracken has become a forgotten man on the Mariners’ bench, left there as Melvin depends more on his starting outfielders to revive the offense.
McCracken has just 13 at-bats.
Melvin had hoped to use McCracken more often in left field and give Raul Ibanez time off against left-handed pitchers.
“With as little power as we have and Raul being one of the only guys who can hit the ball out of the ballpark, it’s tough to take Raul out of there right now,” Melvin said. “Quinton’s really suffering the consequence. I feel terrible about it.”
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